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(ICIS) -- Europe is not expected to fully
convert to membrane-cell method for its chlor-alkali capacity by 2020 given the
high costs involved in the process, an executive at French-based producer Arkema
said on Friday. Clarifying comments made in a speech at the 15th world
chlor-alkali conference in Singapore, Pascal Maureta, business manager for
caustic soda, said on the sidelines of the conference that “we don’t have a
crystal ball. These predictions are not firm and only made based on today’s
data, and for a worst-case possible scenario.”
European chlor-alkali producers said that the costly conversion to
membrane-cell technology came could not have come at a worse time. European
regulations require all plants to switch to the more energy efficient
membrane-cell method of production by 2020.
Margins for downstream polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which account for the
majority of European chlorine use, have remained in negative territory since
2008, they said.
Demand for suspension PVC (SPVC) in 2008 slumped by 25% from record 2007
levels, in line with the global economic downturn. Soaring feedstock prices also
squeezed margins, they said.
mrcplast.com
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